The Republic of Portugal reaffirms its full support for the autonomy initiative for the Sahara under Moroccan sovereignty and hails the strategic partnership with Rabat
ALDAR / Meryem Hafiani
The Republic of Portugal reaffirmed, through a joint declaration issued following the official visit of Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita to Lisbon on Tuesday, July 22, its full and unwavering support for the autonomy initiative proposed by Morocco as a realistic, credible, and serious solution to the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara, within the framework of efforts led under the auspices of the United Nations.
The meeting between Nasser Bourita and his Portuguese counterpart, Paulo Rangel, was an opportunity to once again emphasize the quality of bilateral relations, marked by steady momentum — particularly as this year marks the 250th anniversary of the historic Peace Treaty signed in 1774 and the 30th anniversary of the Treaty of Friendship, Good Neighborliness, and Cooperation signed in 1994.
The two ministers discussed ways to implement the outcomes of the high-level summit held in Lisbon in May 2023, expressing the wish to hold the next session as soon as possible. They also welcomed the tripartite Morocco-Portugal-Spain cooperation in organizing the 2030 FIFA World Cup, considering the event a driver of joint development and cultural rapprochement between peoples.
Portugal also expressed appreciation for the central role played by Morocco, under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, in promoting stability and development across the African continent. In this context, the Portuguese minister praised the strategic initiatives launched by the Sovereign — notably through the Forum of African Atlantic States, the Royal initiative to grant Sahel countries access to the Atlantic Ocean, and the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project.
For his part, Nasser Bourita commended Portugal’s hosting of the 10th edition of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations Forum, which succeeded the 9th edition held in Fez in 2022, emphasizing the importance of this forum in promoting universal human values.
Both parties stressed the need to strengthen their bilateral cooperation in promising sectors, particularly renewable energy — with a focus on green hydrogen — as well as the development of electrical and maritime interconnections, thereby contributing to energy security and regional integration.
The Portuguese foreign minister also reaffirmed his country’s support for the strategic partnership between Morocco and the European Union, particularly in the fields of agriculture and maritime fisheries, calling for continued dialogue to further strengthen this relationship on solid and mutually beneficial grounds.
At the conclusion of their talks, the two ministers reiterated their shared commitment to promoting security and stability in their respective regional environments, in full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, while underlining the importance of peaceful solutions to conflicts within the framework of multilateralism and international law.
This Portuguese stance thus reinforces the growing European and international support for Morocco’s autonomy proposal, as a definitive solution to the artificial conflict over the Sahara, within a vision grounded in peace, development, and continental integration.
